carbon process

8.8

A way of making photographs using paper covered with gelatin and pigment

noun

Archaic

: proceso de carbono

The carbon process was widely used in the 19th century for its permanence and rich image quality.

Examples

The museum's collection includes rare photographs made by the carbon process.
He learned to produce prints using the carbon process during his studies in historical photography techniques.
The carbon process produces stunning images.
Many artists prefer the carbon process for its depth.
The carbon process was widely used in the 19th century for its permanence and rich image quality.
The museum's collection includes rare photographs made by the carbon process.
He learned to produce prints using the carbon process during his studies in historical photography techniques.

Synonyms

autotypy

vscarbon process

Archaic

9.9

A process that makes permanent photographic prints using carbon pigment

uses bichromated gelatin on paper with pigment as the specific process

autotype

vscarbon process

Archaic

9.9

A printing process using carbon pigment that makes permanent prints

uses bichromated gelatin coating on paper as the particular photographic method

Surface Forms

carbon process singular

carbon processes plural

Morphology

carbon + process

This is a specialized, historical photographic term referring to a particular printing technique rather than a general ‘process involving the element carbon.’ A B1 learner who knows 'carbon' (the chemical element) and 'process' (sequence of steps) would not be able to derive the specific photographic meaning from the constituents, so the expression is lexicalized and unpredictable.

Etymology

Carbon process comes from an old photo method where people coated paper with a thin, sticky layer mixed with dark pigment made from carbon, so the actual picture was the pigment stuck to the paper. That's why the term carbon process means this special 'printing method' known for rich, 'long-lasting' images.